Leading patriots delayed independence until all colonies could agree
Evidence
Adams had expressed that view from the outset of the Second Continental Congress nearly a year before. “When We first came together, I found a strong Jealousy of Us,” he wrote to his wife in June 1775 regarding the opinion of the other delegates toward those from New England. “Suspicions were entertained of Designs of Independency—an American Republic.” Those delegates would come around to see Britain’s hostile designs, he believed. “America is a great, unwieldy Body,” Adams cautioned. “Its Progress must be slow. It is like a large Fleet sailing under Convoy. The fleetest Sailors must wait for the dullest and slowest.” The colonies could only achieve independence together, he believed; Britain would subdue them separately. He would wait for unity. — Edward J. Larson, Declaring Independence, 160
Categorization
- XREF: Directly relevant to the course’s foundational-values questions: the founders themselves weighed unity against liberty as competing first principles. — connects to: Even in 1775, most delegates still sought reconciliation, not independence. — Edward J. Larson, Declaring Independence, 156; By May 1776 the independence struggle hinged on the middle colonies; Delaware, South Carolina, and Pennsylvania delegates sided with independence to preserve colonial unanimity — Edward J. Larson, Declaring Independence, 221 (+1 more)
Broader Connections
- Congress sought unanimity among colonies before declaring independence.
#corroborates(0.98) — Edward J. Larson, Declaring Independence, 207 - Delaware, South Carolina, and Pennsylvania delegates sided with independence to preserve colonial unanimity
#expands(0.90) — Edward J. Larson, Declaring Independence, 221 - By May 1776 the independence struggle hinged on the middle colonies
#corroborates(0.85)